The aim of this presentation is to raise awareness about the challenges families faced by accessing Government services and support in the aftermath of losing their loved ones, and outline work being done to advocate to improve service access for children, young people and other family members. In February 2024, Full Stop Australia met with a group of family members impacted by domestic and family violence homicide. “Australian voices for the silenced” are a group of seven surviving family members of domestic and family violence (DFV) homicide formed an informal support collective, based in Western Sydney (NSW), after experiencing challenges accessing support through government and non-government systems. It will provide an overview of the issues identified by the families, suggested points for reform and reflections of government and sector engagement to date. We will draw on the findings to date utilising a partnered approach to advocacy with the lived expertise of “Australian voices for the silenced” and Full Stop Australia
DFV-related homicide can be accompanied by a flurry of media reporting and outpouring of distress. But afterwards, what happens for the family members left behind? “Australian voices for the silenced” continues to grow in the context of an under-resourced and disconnected service system. In carrying out this advocacy we understand that the lived experience of this Western Sydney group is not unique for victim-survivors of DFV homicide across Australia.
From the meeting with survivor-advocates in February 2024 a document was created to record key challenges and make recommendations for improving formal support to secondary victims of DFV homicide. Issues experienced by this cohort of survivor-advocates include limited access to counselling and system navigation support, challenges accessing Government financial support for their immediate needs, poor treatment by Police, and invasive and unethical media reporting.